Children's Books x2

 "The Crayon Box That Talked" by Shane DeRolf

I first learned of this story when completing a project for a teaching diversity class as an undergrad student.  It wasn't until I started teaching that I found it as a book.  My classroom theme was crayons at the time so this book worked in perfectly at back to school time and on several other occasions.  The children love the colorful pictures. It can be a good way to find out their favorite color and why it is their favorite.
This is a wonderful book that illustrates how we are all different and unique, like a box of crayons. In the beginning of the story a young girl buys the box of crayons and takes it home.  None of the crayons get a long.  She colors a picture and in the end the crayons like each other and have worked together (through her coloring with them) to create a beautiful picture.  The last words say it all, "We are a box of crayons each one of us unique but when we get together the picture is complete". 

"Charlie the Caterpillar" by Dom Deluise

This one falls along the lines of friendship and also sees people as unique.  I first read this during a lesson on butterflies.  This book is about much more than butterflies and it really touches the heart of students.  Students can sometimes relate to animals or crayons like in the above book more so than people.  

In this story Charlie is a caterpillar and although I think he is really cute and fuzzy the characters in the book do not feel the same way.  Charlie tries to make friends with everyone and they call him names and tell him he can't play.  This is very real for young children.  In the end he of course changes to a beautiful butterfly and they all want to become his friend.  He remembers how he was treated by them and just floats about without giving in to their new kindness.  He meets up with anther (girl) caterpillar who is having his same luck with friends.  They become friends and all is well.  

In both of these stories there are lessons that can be learned and lots of discussion that can take place. Lots of discussion about feelings, friends, and social behavior come from these books and often when children see a similar behavior being acted out they refer to the books. For example when someone says, "I'm not your friend, or I don't want to play with you".  These books can help young children to work through those difference and make good choices and good friends.  I always enjoy reading these to my students and they never tire of hearing them.  They ask for them over and over again.